Railway tie plate



June-2 1936. R. HILL RAILWAY TIE PLATE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1934 T "m l a 0 2 June 2, 1936. R. HILL 2,042,464

RAILWAY TIE PLATE Filed Dec; 26 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ti llv YEA/70E Easter #141 Fig.7. WWW

Patented June 2, 1936 PATENT oFFicE' 2,042,464 RAILWAY TIE PLA'rE Robert Hill, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, assignor of one- Quebec, Canada half to William A. Duff, Montreal,

Application December 26, 1934, Serial No. 159,141

12 claims (or. 238-355) The invention relates to railway tie-plates generally, along the lines of my previously issued United States Patents Nos. 1,962,507 and 1,979,158 and my pending United States Patent applications Nos. 555,774 and 621,933 and more particularly to resilient means for yieldingly retaining rails upon tie-plates in which the base of the rail is adapted to rest or be retained thereon.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tie-plate and rail-retaining device which, when used in combination will yieldingly hold the rail against vertical or wave motion under load or trafilc pressure.

Another object is to provide a device of this character for resiliently connecting the rail to the tie-plate by the use of which noise or rattle in operation is eliminated and wave motion of the rail may take place without disturbing the connection between the plate and tie and without lifting them from the ballast.

A further object is to provide a simple and dur-' able rail-retaining device in two parts, co-operative with the tie-plate that will more efliciently and at less cost perform the functions required,

5 and which can be quickly and readily assembled to enable rails to be more expeditiously and satisfactorily laid or removed.

In the present invention the parts are rolled and the plate may be secured to the tie with cut 30 spikes, screw spikes, bolts and the like.

The device as a whole may be embodied in various forms of comb'nations, the objects and advantages of which will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

35 The invention comprises a railway tie plate provided at each side of its railbearing surface with a transversely extending shoulder or wall, and a hole in the tie plate co-operative with each of the shoulders, a rail-retaining device adapted 40 to fit snugly in the tie-plate holes and including a.

key-engaging rail-keeper and a keeper-engaging key formed to interlock with the keeper and yieldingly retain the keeper to resiliently hold the rail against wave motion thereof under trafdc stress. 45 The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations of specific embodiments thereof, while the scope of the invention will be more particularly pointed '50 out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings and the examples of the invention therein disclosed for illustrative purposes only and inwhich like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

55 Fig. 1 is an end view partly in section showing a tie-plate embodying one form of my invention and a section of rail in position on the plate.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tie-plate shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the rail retain- 5 ing member or keeper.

Figs. 4 and 4a are similar views of the key for v the keeper.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention. 10

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the modified form of the keeper.

Fig. "I is a similar view of the modified form of the key for the keeper.

Fig. 8 is a view of an alternative to broaching 15 the opening in the tie-plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings a conventional rail is shown in the various figures in which its tread is indicated at lll,.web at H, and based flanges at I2. 20

In the embodiment of theinvention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the tie-plate I3 is provided on its rail bearing surface with a pair of transversely extending upwardly directed shoulders or walls l4, spaced apart a distance equal to the 'width of the rail flange l2. The plate I3 is also provided with openings l5 extending rearwardly from the shoulders and of suitable form to receive the keeper or rail-retaining member l1 therein... This keeper member is adapted to extend across the shoulders l4 and to overlap the base flanges I2, of the rail, and is here shown as comprising a head l6, with a protruding portion or lip IS, a substantially vertical portion or body IS with a wedge-shaped base as at 20 conforming to the contour of the slanted end wall of the openings l5 in the plate. The back of end 20 of the keeper member I1 is ofiset as at 2| while adjacent the top a recess 22 is provided.

It will be noted that the keeper l'l occupies a 40 portion only of the plate openings l5, leaving a space for another and essential feature of the invention in the form of the locking or keeperretaining key 23. This member, similar to the keeper, is preferably of rolled resilient steel and consists of a straight piece with a bead 24 to engage with the recess 22 in the back of the keeper l1, and which will when driven into place also engage with the dip or offset 2| in the keeper, thus securely and resiliently locking this member to yieldingly hold the same in resiliently spaced relation to the base flanges l2, of the rail A. It will also be seen that as the driven key 23, looks with the keeper, the wedge-shaped base of the latter will co-operate with the slanted wall of ings IS in the tie-plate portion and an upwardly extending suitably 4 the base flanges the openings ii in the tie-plate, so that the railretaining device as a whole will yieldingly retain the rail without disturbing the connection between it and the rail and between the tie-plate and the tie.

In operation, thetie-plate I3 having been secured in wellknown manner to the tie and the rail section placed thereon between the shoulders l4, the keeper i1 is then placed in each of the openings IS. in the plate and the key 23, driven into these openings behind the keeper, locking the same in yieldingly spaced relation to the base flanges I2, of the rail, to permit wave motion of the rail under traffic pressure. The simplicity and durability of my three part rail-retaining tieplate will be apparent from the foregoing while the fact that it can be manufactured and marketed atlesser cost than devices of this character, heretofore and at present in use, will be readily understood.

In the modifications about to be described parts similar to those designated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, have been indicated by the same designations.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 inclusive: The tie-plate I3 is provided with the transversely extending upwardly directed shoulders I 4, at each side of its rail-bearing surface.

While the rail-retaining means associated and co-operative therewith comprise a holding and seating member 30, adapted to flt into the openand formed with a seating curved back 3|, to seat and partially embrace a keepermember l1, adaptedto protrude over I2, of the rail. preferably consists of a rolled steel plate bent upon itself at one end as at 32, and provided with a transversely extending taper 33 to engage with the broached inner wall of the opening l5. This member drivable, from the side, into the holding member 30, progressively locks therewith until it is'correctly positioned therein, with the bent curved end resting upon the seating portion 3|, of the member 30, and the extremity of said end contacting with the shoulder H. In this manner the keeper i 1, is resiliently adapted to retain the rail so as to permit wave motion thereof under traflic pressure. Furthermore by slightly bending the free end (not shown) of the keeper I1, it will clamp on the base flanges of the rail and thus,'co-operating with the railabutting shoulders I5, effectively act as an anticreeper for the rail.

' Referring again to the embodiment in the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive it should be mentioned that to remove the locking key 23 when required, it is only necessary to 'use any well known toolv such as a claw-barto grip the bead 24 on the key, then pull backwardly and upwardly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the objects of my invention may be readily 8J0- complished by producing a tie-plate with transversely and suitably spaced shoulders, a rail keeper member, formed with key-engaging means, associated with each of the shoulders and arranged to extend into the plate and a key member, formed with a keeper-engaging means, drivable to simultaneously lock with the keeper in the tie-plate.

In the alternative modification shown in Fig. 8 the openings l5 are formed straight to engage with the keeper I1 also formed with the straight base and the walls ll are outwardly bent as at The keeper l'i keeper engagin H to engage with the wedge-shaped projection 9 on the front of the keeper. In other words instead of the wedge-shaped keeper and the corresponding plate opening, I substitute a straight opening and a wedge-shaped projection 9 on the keeper to engage with the outwardly bent shoulders M.

It should also be noted in the example of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive that while the rail may be held against lateral movement between the shoulders M and is yieldingly secured on the tie-plate.by the keeper and the locking key forming the rail retaining device this can be readily adapted to perform with the shoulders the functions of an anti-creeper by simply keying the keeper against the rail instead of in spaced relation thereto.

As various forms of the device may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, it is not intended that the application should be limited to the particular examples disclosed herein, and modifications may, therefore, be made in them within the scope of the claims wthout departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim for my invention is:

1.'A railway tie-plate provided with a transversely extending keeper engaging shoulder ad- 'acent each side of its rail bearing surface, a keyengaging keeper adapted to interlock with the shoulder against relative vertical movement, a keeper-engaging key drivablein the tie plate to progressively lock with the keeper to yieldingly retain the keeper in resiliently spaced relation to the rail on the tie-plate.

2. A railway tie-plate provided with a transversely extending keeper engaging shoulder at each side of its rail bearing surface, a key engaging keeper member arranged to extend into the plate and adapted to interlock with the shoulder against relative vertical movement, a keeper-engaging key drivable in the tie plate to progressively lock with the keeper to retain the keeper in clamping relation to the rail on the tie-plate.

3. A railway tie plate having a shoulder at each side of its rail bearing surface and an opening in the plate asociated with each shoulder, a key-engaging keeper interlockingly co-operative with each shoulder and arranged to extend into and partially fill the tie-plate opening and a keeper-engaging key adapted to interlock with the keeper to completely flll the plate openings in resiliently operative relation to the rail.

4. In a railway tie-plate of the character described, and in combination, a shoulder and an opening in the plate at a side surface, an interlocking rail keeper and key device arranged to-exten'd into and completely flll the tie-plate opening and interlock with the shoulder while overhanging the rail in resiliently operative relation to the rail.

5. A railway tie-plate having a transversely extending shoulder, and an opening in the tie plate, at each side of its rail bearing surface, a shoulder-and-key-interlocking keeper detachable in each of the tie plate openings, a keeper-engaging key drivable in the tie plate to interlock with each keeper and yieldingly retain the keeper relative to the rail.

6. A railway tie-plate having a shoulder, and a opening at each side of its rail bearing surface, a rail retaining keeper member, provided with key interlocking means, adapted to simultaneously engage with each plate opening and interlock with the shoulder, a key, provided with keeper interlocking means, adapted to lock of its rail bearing with the keeper, in the plate and yieldingly retain the keeper relative to the rail.

7. In a railway tie plate of the character described and in combination, a shoulder, and an opening in the tie plate adjacent each side of its rail bearing surface, an interlocking keeper and key device interlockinglyco-operative with each shoulder and conforming to the contour of the tie plate openings to resiliently hold the keeper in spaced relation to the rail.

8. A railway tie plate provided with a transversely extending keeper-interlocking shoulder and a keeper-interlocking hole at each side of its rail bearing surface, a key engaging keeper conforming to the contour of the shoulder and adapted to fit the hole in the tie plate, and a key with keeper-engaging means adapted to interlock with the keeper in the plate to resiliently retain the keeper in spaced relation to the rail.

9. A railway tie plate having a substantially rectangular shoulder, and a suitably formed opening in the tie plate, at each side of its rail bearing surface, a keeper, adapted on one side to interlock with the shoulder and on another side to engage with a key, said key being formed with keeper engaging'means and drivable in the tie plate openings to progressively lock with the keeper and resiliently retain the latter relative to the rail.

10. A railway tie plate having a transversely extending shoulder and an upwardlytapered' punched hole at each side of its rail bearing surface, a key engaging keeper adapted to embrace and protrude over the shoulder while conformabiy engaging with the hole in the tie plate, and a key formed with keeper engaging means adapted to interlock with the keeper in continuous contact therewith in the plate, and completely fill said hole, to resiliently retain the keeper relative to the rail.

11. In a railway tie plate the'combination of a shoulder, and an opening in the tie plate at each side of the 'rail bearing surface, with a rail retaining device resiliently engaging with the tie plate opening and in interlocking contact with the side and top of the shoulder, comprising a keeper formed externally with key engaging means and a wedging-key formed with keeper engaging means adapted to interlock with the keeper in the plate in continuous contact therewith to yieldingly retain the rail.

12. A railway tie-plate having a transversely extending shoulder at an edge of the rail bearing surface and having an opening outside and adjacent the shoulder to receive a key, a keeper and said key adapted to interlock and to substantially fill said opening and interlock with the shoulder when in operative position, said tieplate being adapted to cause the shoulder to interlock with the interlocked key and keeper, the keeper overlying the rail bearing surface and yieldably restraining upward motion of an underlying rail flange.

ROBERT HILL. 

